Spray device



May 1, 1962 T. SCHN ElDER SPRAY DEVICE Filed Nov. 10, 1960 INVENTOR. TED SCHNEIDER 452W? QM AT'LORNEYS United States I "atent 3,632,275 Patented May 1, 1962 dice This invention relates to mixing and spraying devices and more particularly to a device for mixing a relatively small volume stream of concentrate, such as fluid detergent or the like, with a relatively large volume stream of diluent, such as water.

There have heretofore been proposed and used a variety of spraying devices which admix fluid concentrates and fluid diluents. Some of these devices, for example, are commonly used to introduce a concentrated insecticide or fertilizer composition into a stream of water for spraying gardens, shrubs, etc. Some have made use of the well-known aspirating effect, which results when a stream of fluid moving at a relatively high velocity passes across a small opening, thereby causing a reduced pressure in a tube leading to a concentrate container. In these latter devices, the diluent stream is normally substantially circular in cross-sectional configuration as it passes over the aspirating opening with a resultant surface mixing of concentrate with the diluent stream. Also, they have tended to eject such surface mixed concentrate and diluent in a circular or cylindrical stream resulting in a large quantity of high-pressure fluid impinging in a relatively limited area. Further, the stream tends to oscillate as it issues.

.Thepresent invention provides an improved mixing and spraying device which utilizes the above referred to aspirating .ettect to greater advantage for achieving a more eflicient and uniform mixing. My device also has an improved combination of cooperating elements whereby an improved spray pattern is obtained; and, particularly when used with concentrated detergents, soaps, etc., thoroughly admixes them with the diluent or water stream to issue a uniform spray. The device is, furthermore, inclusive of a full stop valve which completely shuts off detergent from the diluent stream issuing from the device which, because the issuing spray has a highly improved impinging pattern, will substantially entirely remove any detergent material clinging to a surface being cleaned, thereby leaving the surface unstreaked upon drying. Because of novel cooperation between elements of my device, a wide, uniform, substantially even, non-oscillating stream of spray results.

It is thus among the features and advantages of my invention to provide a new, improved, simple and easily manufactured fluid mixing device; which achieves high and efiicient intermixing between concentrate and diluent; and which provides an improved and uniform spray pattern.

Many other features and advantages inherent in a device according to my inventive concepts will become obvious to those skilled in the art from a study of the detailed description of the appended drawings which is set forth hereafter. In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a mixing device constructed according to my inventive concepts;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the nozzle portion of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the nozzle of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation from the other side of the device of FIG. 1, showing a portion of the elements thereof;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed side view in partial section of a portion of the structure of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged isometric view in partial section of a portion of the structure of FIG. 5.

Before describing the drawings in detail, I wish it understood that they are merely exemplary of a possible arrangement embodying my inventive concepts, and I do not intend to be limited thereby, but rather intend that the spirit and scope of my invention be as defined in the hereafter appended claims.

A unitary mixing and spraying assembly 10 constructed according to my invention is shown in FIG. 1 as assembled on a support which may be an internally threaded cover 11 adapted to be securely fitted on a container 12. The main body of assembly it is supported on the cover by integral forward mount 13 and integral rear'strut 14.

The rear end of the assembly 1% has a suitable inlet 15 adapted for interconnection with a diluent source.

Essentially, the assembly 10 is comprised of three interconnected progressively converging tubular body portions 16, 17 and 18. The body portion 16 iszthe largest and is the one having the diluent inlet 15. The forward end of the body portion 16 is swaged or reduced to continue as the second body portion 17, which is likewise swaged or reduced to form the third portion 18. The three interconnected portions form a tubular stream confining passage of gradually decreasing cross-sectional area from the inlet 15 through the fan-shaped nozzle 19 to the spray opening or outlet 190. When the inlet 15 is interconnected with a diluent source, such as a garden hose, and fluid passes through the assembly 10 and body portions 16, 17 and 18 to the outlet 19a, there is an aspirating elfect over the opening 35 of passage 20. The

valve 21 in mount 13 interconnects the passage 20 with the tube 22 which is suitably positioned with its inlet 23 deep within the container 12. A suitable manipulating handle 24 is interconnected for operation of the valve 21. The valve 21 is preferably a three position valve adapted to completely shut-off concentrate at one position.

The fan-shaped nozzle 19 forms a confined mixing zone bounded by upper and lower deflecting surfaces. An opening 30 is substantially centrally located through the upper surface, forward of the point of joinder between the nozzle 19 and the body portion 18 for ingress of air. The forward peripheral edge 26a of the upper Wall of the nozzle is fluted or corrugated across its lateral extent rearwardly to a point spaced forward of opening 30. FIG. 3 is a front view of the nozzle of FIG. 2 and further illustrates the corrugated or fluted nature of the upper surface, the purposes of which are discussed herea ter.

The manipulating handle 24 has associated with it a generally fan-shaped indicator 31. Near the upper peripheral edge of the indicator 31 are spaced indentations 32 for the purpose of maintaining the manipulating handle 24 in a desired position.

Diluent or fluid passing through the assembly 10 within the converging interconnected tubular body portions issues from portion 18 and is directed into the mixing zone against the inside upper surface of the nozzle 19, as indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 5 and 6. The nozzle 19 is so constructed that the issuing stream strikes or impinges against the inside upper surface rearwardly of the opening 30. Upon striking the upper surface, the diluent or water fans out and is deflected downwardly against the inside lower surface of the nozzle forward of the opening 35. This action produces an area of reduced pressure, generally indicated by reference numeral 36, slightly behind the deflected diluent stream. The reduced pressure allows atmospheric pressure to be exerted through opening 11a on the fluid in container 12, thereby forcing it upwardly through the passage 20 and into the area 36 for intcrmixing of concentrate and diluent. The so-mixed diluent and concentrate flowing as a stream through the nozzle 26 draw air in through V the opening 3-9 and when the concentrate is a detergent dosa es 3 or the like, issue from the opening 19a as a rich, soapy intermixed cleansing and washing spray.

The slope of nozzie 26 and its interrelation with the diluent stream leaving the terminal portion of the tubular section 18, and their relation with the spacing of openings 30 and and the fluted area 29a, is critical. The slope of the upper surface of the nozzle 19 and its converging spaced relationship to the lower surface of the nozzle 19 must be such that the diluent stream strikes the upper surface rearwardly of the opening 34'? and is downwardly deflected forward of the opening 35. This arrangement (see PEG. 6 in particular) of the deflected stream striking the lower surface forward of the opening 35, forms a wall of diluent, as it were, forward of the opening 35 to produce a fairly substantial area 36 of reduced pressure that is highly eflicient in aspirating concentrate from the container i2. Also, the so-aspirated concentrate after intermixing with the rapidly moving wall of deflected diluent, must pass the opening 30 in a manner which aspirates air through the opening 36. Experiment-Mud observation have shown that the opening 30 is highly beneficial in increasing the intimacy of intermixing between the diluent and concentrate, and also overcomes the tendency of the stream to oscillate. The importance of the opening is further illustrated by the fact that if the opening is closed as by placing a finger over it, the stream will oscillate. It is thought, perhaps, this maybe due to eddy currents and gas pockets which result in foaming within the stream.

The corrugated or fluted portion 20a of the upper surface and the diverging construction of the mixing zone within nozzle 20 produce 'a uniform spreading fan-like stream which, immediately after it issues through the spray opening 19, has a fluted or multi-stream character. This, in effect, produces a plurality of small streams across the fan of issuing spray which impinge across a relatively large surface area. This is highly beneficial, particularly in a rinsing operation, after washing has been accomplished. In fact, tests have shown that when using a spray device constructed according to the above teachings, wiping or the like is not normally necessary to remove soap film, etc. since a surface rinsed with my device dries substantially without streaks. This is a highly beneficial result, increasing eficiency of washing operations and decreasing the man hours necessary to finish a job.

In a typical operation using the device above described, a common garden hose is interconnected with a suitable coupling at the inlet 15 of assembly 10. The valve 21, through its manipulating member 24, is set at a closed position (generally the position indicated by numeral 22). After a continuous flow of diluent is accomplished through the assembly, a reduced pressure at 36 is establis'hed and air drawn in through the opening 3t is bubbling and intermixing with the diluent stream. Once the foregoing conditions have been accomplished (which is of course on the order of a few seconds) the manipulating handle 24 is moved to allow passage of concentrate, such as detergent, from the container 12 through opening 35 for the desired intimate intermixing with the diluent stream. With the detergent intermixed with the water, the spray may be directed on windows, cars, houses, etc. to cleanse them, and by turning the valve to full off, clear water is issued to rinse the washed parts.

Having thus described my invention and its operation with sufiicient detail and particularity to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice it, what I desire to have protected by Letters iatent is set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for admixing fluids, having a hous ng constructed and arranged to form a downwardly directed diverging mixing zone, a tubular body opening to said housing and forming a stream confining passage, in which a large volume stream passes from said passage and aspirates a smaller volume stream from a second passage which opens into said mixing zone, a second tubular body opening into said housing formin said second passage, and said housing forming the mixing zone being confined by at least spaced apart upper and lower defiecting surfaces, the improvement comprising an opening to the atmosphere through said upper surface on and intermediate the ends of the longitudinal bisector thereof forward of the area of deflection of said large volume stream, and there being an opening from said second pass ge through said lower surface rearwardly of the area of impinging relation of said lower surface with said deflected large volume stream whereby an area of reduced pressure is formed adjacent the opening from said second passage.

2. Apparatus for admixing fluids comprising a tubular body defining a stream confining passageway, an inlet to said passageway, the outlet from said passageway interconnected with a downwardly directed confined mixing zone inclusive of a spray opening, said zone being defined by upper and lower spaced deflecting surfaces, the forward end of said upper surface adjacent thesaid opening being fluted across a major portion of its lateral extent, there being an opening in said upper surface intermediate its ends substantially on the longitudinal bisector thereof and spaced rearwardly of the fluted portion, said opening being spaced forwardly of the stream confining passage such that diluent issuing from said passage strikes said upper deflecting surface at a point spaced rearwar ly of said opening, there being a second opening in said lower surface communicating with a concentrate confining passage, said second opening being spaced rearwardly of said opening in the upper surface such that diluent dc-v fiected from said upper surface impinges said lower surface forwardly of said second opening.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the spray opening is a narrow, elongated rectangle.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the spray opening is a rectangle having its upper Wall fluted at the opening.

5. Apparatus for admixing fluids comprising a tubular body defining a converging stream confining passageway, an inlet to said passageway, an outlet from said passageway interconnected with a downwardly directed laterally diverging confined mixing zone inclusive of a spray opening, said zone being confined in part by upper and lower spaced converging mixing surfaces such that said spray opening is adapted to issue a diverging stream, there being an opening through said upper surface intermediate its ends substantially on the longitudinal bisector thereof spaced rearwardly from. said spray opening and forwardly of the terminus of said stream confining passage such that fluid issuing from said passage strikes said upper deflecting surface at a point spaced rearwardly from the opening, said lower surface opening to a second fluid confining passage rearwardly of the opening in the upper surface such that fluid deflected from said upper surface impinges on said lower surface forwardly of the second passage.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the diluent inlet to said upper surface is substantially circular.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the diluent impinges against said upper surface at an acute angle.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which said upper and lower surfaces are directed convergently toward said opening.

References fitted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,715,140 Martin May 28, .1929 2,083,851 Marcy a- June 15, 1937 2,562,096 Herrmann July 24, 1951 2,594,476 Miller Apr. 29, 1952 

